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de Melo Cardoso M, Scussel R, da Silva Abel J, Pereira FO, Cruz LA, da Costa Constante F, De Pieri E, Abelaira HM, Ferreira J, Gomez MV, Rigo FK, Machado-de-Ávila RA. Intravenous administration of recombinant Phα1β: Antinociceptive properties and morphine tolerance reversal in a cancer-associated pain model. Toxicon 2024; 243:107717. [PMID: 38614245 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-related pain is considered one of the most prevalent symptoms for those affected by cancer, significantly influencing quality of life and treatment outcomes. Morphine is currently employed for analgesic treatment in this case, however, chronic use of this opioid is limited by the development of analgesic tolerance and adverse effects, such as digestive and neurological disorders. Alternative therapies, such as ion channel blockade, are explored. The toxin Phα1β has demonstrated efficacy in blocking calcium channels, making it a potential candidate for alleviating cancer-related pain. This study aims to assess the antinociceptive effects resulting from intravenous administration of the recombinant form of Phα1β (r-Phα1β) in an experimental model of cancer-related pain in mice, tolerant or not to morphine. The model of cancer-induced pain was used to evaluate these effects, with the injection of B16F10 cells, followed by the administration of the r-Phα1β, and evaluation of the mechanical threshold by the von Frey test. Also, adverse effects were assessed using a score scale, the rotarod, and open field tests. Results indicate that the administration of r-Phα1β provoked antinociception in animals with cancer-induced mechanical hyperalgesia, with or without morphine tolerance. Previous administration of r-Phα1β was able to recover the analgesic activity of morphine in animals tolerant to this opioid. r-Phα1β was proved safe for these parameters, as no adverse effects related to motor and behavioral activity were observed following intravenous administration. This study suggests that the concomitant use of morphine and r-Phα1β could be a viable strategy for pain modulation in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana de Melo Cardoso
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathophysiology, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of the Extreme South Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30130-100, MG, Brazil
| | - Rahisa Scussel
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathophysiology, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of the Extreme South Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Jéssica da Silva Abel
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathophysiology, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of the Extreme South Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Fernando Oriques Pereira
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathophysiology, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of the Extreme South Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Lidiane Anastácio Cruz
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathophysiology, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of the Extreme South Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Franciane da Costa Constante
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathophysiology, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of the Extreme South Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Ellen De Pieri
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathophysiology, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of the Extreme South Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Helena Mendes Abelaira
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathophysiology, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of the Extreme South Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Juliano Ferreira
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Marcus Vinícius Gomez
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Institute of Education and Research, Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Center of Technology in Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Flávia Karine Rigo
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathophysiology, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of the Extreme South Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Andrez Machado-de-Ávila
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathophysiology, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of the Extreme South Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
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Trevisan G, Oliveira SM. Animal Venom Peptides Cause Antinociceptive Effects by Voltage-gated Calcium Channels Activity Blockage. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:1579-1599. [PMID: 34259147 PMCID: PMC9881091 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666210713121217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain is a complex phenomenon that is usually unpleasant and aversive. It can range widely in intensity, quality, and duration and has diverse pathophysiologic mechanisms and meanings. Voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels are essential to transmitting painful stimuli from the periphery until the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Thus, blocking voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) can effectively control pain refractory to treatments currently used in the clinic, such as cancer and neuropathic pain. VGCCs blockers isolated of cobra Naja naja kaouthia (α-cobratoxin), spider Agelenopsis aperta (ω-Agatoxin IVA), spider Phoneutria nigriventer (PhTx3.3, PhTx3.4, PhTx3.5, PhTx3.6), spider Hysterocrates gigas (SNX-482), cone snails Conus geographus (GVIA), Conus magus (MVIIA or ziconotide), Conus catus (CVID, CVIE and CVIF), Conus striatus (SO- 3), Conus fulmen (FVIA), Conus moncuri (MoVIA and MoVIB), Conus regularis (RsXXIVA), Conus eburneus (Eu1.6), Conus victoriae (Vc1.1.), Conus regius (RgIA), and spider Ornithoctonus huwena (huwentoxin-I and huwentoxin-XVI) venoms caused antinociceptive effects in different acute and chronic pain models. Currently, ziconotide is the only clinical used N-type VGCCs blocker peptide for chronic intractable pain. However, ziconotide causes different adverse effects, and the intrathecal route of administration also impairs its use in a more significant number of patients. In this sense, peptides isolated from animal venoms or their synthetic forms that act by modulating or blocking VGCCs channels seem to be a relevant prototype for developing new analgesics efficacious and well tolerated by patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Trevisan
- Graduated Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil; ,Address correspondence to these authors at the Graduated Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Avenida Roraima, 1000, building 21, room 5207, Zip code: 97105-900 Santa Maria (RS), Brazil; E-mails: , and Graduated Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Avenida Roraima, 1000, building 18, room 2203, Zip code: 97105-900 Santa Maria (RS), Brazil;, E-mail:
| | - Sara Marchesan Oliveira
- Graduated Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil,Address correspondence to these authors at the Graduated Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Avenida Roraima, 1000, building 21, room 5207, Zip code: 97105-900 Santa Maria (RS), Brazil; E-mails: , and Graduated Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Avenida Roraima, 1000, building 18, room 2203, Zip code: 97105-900 Santa Maria (RS), Brazil;, E-mail:
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Chen J, Liu X, Yu S, Liu J, Chen R, Zhang Y, Jiang L, Dai Q. A novel ω-conotoxin Bu8 inhibiting N-type voltage-gated calcium channels displays potent analgesic activity. Acta Pharm Sin B 2021; 11:2685-2693. [PMID: 34589389 PMCID: PMC8463271 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
ω-Conotoxins inhibit N-type voltage-gated calcium (CaV2.2) channels and exhibit efficacy in attenuating neuropathic pain but have a low therapeutic index. Here, we synthesized and characterized a novel ω-conotoxin, Bu8 from Conus bullatus, which consists of 25 amino acid residues and three disulfide bridges. Bu8 selectively and potently inhibits depolarization-activated Ba2+ currents mediated by rat CaV2.2 expressed in HEK293T cells (IC50 = 89 nmol/L). Bu8 is two-fold more potent than ω-conotoxin MVIIA, a ω-conotoxin currently used for the treatment of severe chronic pain. It also displays potent analgesic activity in animal pain models of hot plate and acetic acid writhing but has fewer side effects on mouse motor function and lower toxicity in goldfish. Its lower side effects may be attributed to its faster binding rate and higher recovery ratios. The NMR structure demonstrates that Bu8 contains a small irregular triple β-strand. The structure-activity relationships of Bu8 Ala mutants and Bu8/MVIIA hybrid mutants demonstrate that the binding mode of CaV2.2 with the amino acid residues in loop 1 and loop 2 of Bu8 is different from that of MVIIA. This study characterizes a novel, more potent ω-conotoxin and provides new insights for designing CaV2.2 antagonists.
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Key Words
- Analgesic activity
- Bu8
- DIEA, diisopropylethylamine
- ESI-MS, electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy
- Fmoc, N-(9-fluorenyl)methyloxy-carbonyl
- HBTU, 2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate
- HOBt, 1-hydroxybenzotriazole
- IC50, half-maximal inhibitory concentration
- N-type calcium ion channel
- RP-HPLC, reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography
- Structure–activity relationship
- TFA, trifluoroacetic acid
- ω-conotoxin
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinqin Chen
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xinhong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological System, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuo Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Rongfang Chen
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yunxiao Zhang
- College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Ling Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological System, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
- Corresponding authors. Tel: +86 10 66948897.
| | - Qiuyun Dai
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
- Corresponding authors. Tel: +86 10 66948897.
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High-Voltage-Activated Calcium Channel in the Afferent Pain Pathway: An Important Target of Pain Therapies. Neurosci Bull 2019; 35:1073-1084. [PMID: 31065935 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-019-00378-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
High-voltage-activated (HVA) Ca2+ channels are widely expressed in the nervous system. They play an important role in pain conduction by participating in various physiological processes such as synaptic transmission, changes in synaptic plasticity, and neuronal excitability. Available evidence suggests that the HVA channel is an important therapeutic target for pain management. In this review, we summarize the changes in different subtypes of HVA channel during pain and present the currently available evidence from the clinical application of HVA channel blockers. We also review novel drugs in various phases of development. Moreover, we discuss the future prospects of HVA channel blockers in order to promote "bench-to-bedside" translation.
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Tonello R, Rigo F, Gewehr C, Trevisan G, Pereira EMR, Gomez MV, Ferreira J. Action of Phα1β, a peptide from the venom of the spider Phoneutria nigriventer, on the analgesic and adverse effects caused by morphine in mice. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2014; 15:619-31. [PMID: 24607814 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2014.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2013] [Revised: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Opioids are standard therapy for the treatment of pain; however, adverse effects limit their use. Voltage-gated calcium channel blockers may be used to increase opioid analgesia, but their effect on opioid-induced side effects is little known. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate the action of the peptide Phα1β, a voltage-gated calcium channel blocker, on the antinociceptive and adverse effects produced by morphine in mice. A single administration of morphine (3-10 mg/kg) was able to reduce heat nociception as well as decrease gastrointestinal transit. The antinociception caused by a single injection of morphine was slightly increased by an intrathecal injection of Phα1β (30 pmol/site). Repeated treatment with morphine caused tolerance, hyperalgesia, withdrawal syndrome, and constipation, and the Phα1β (.1-30 pmol/site, intrathecal) was able to reverse these effects. Finally, the effects produced by the native form of Phα1β were fully mimicked by a recombinant version of this peptide. Taken together, these data show that Phα1β was effective in potentiating the analgesia caused by a single dose of morphine as well as in reducing tolerance and the adverse effects induced by repeated administration of morphine, indicating its potential use as an adjuvant drug in combination with opioids. PERSPECTIVE This article presents preclinical evidence for a useful adjuvant drug in opioid treatment. Phα1β, a peptide calcium channel blocker, could be used not only to potentiate morphine analgesia but also to reduce the adverse effects caused by repeated administration of morphine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Tonello
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Flávia Rigo
- Núcleo de Pós-graduação, Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa da Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Camila Gewehr
- Núcleo de Pós-graduação, Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa da Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Trevisan
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Elizete Maria Rita Pereira
- Núcleo de Pós-graduação, Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa da Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Marcus Vinicius Gomez
- Núcleo de Pós-graduação, Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa da Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Juliano Ferreira
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-fourth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2011 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior (Section 2), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (Section 3); stress and social status (Section 4); tolerance and dependence (Section 5); learning and memory (Section 6); eating and drinking (Section 7); alcohol and drugs of abuse (Section 8); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (Section 9); mental illness and mood (Section 10); seizures and neurologic disorders (Section 11); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (Section 12); general activity and locomotion (Section 13); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (Section 14); cardiovascular responses (Section 15); respiration (Section 16); and immunological responses (Section 17).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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Conotoxins that confer therapeutic possibilities. Mar Drugs 2012; 10:1244-1265. [PMID: 22822370 PMCID: PMC3397437 DOI: 10.3390/md10061244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2012] [Revised: 04/24/2012] [Accepted: 05/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cone snails produce a distinctive repertoire of venom peptides that are used both as a defense mechanism and also to facilitate the immobilization and digestion of prey. These peptides target a wide variety of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, which make them an invaluable resource for studying the properties of these ion channels in normal and diseased states, as well as being a collection of compounds of potential pharmacological use in their own right. Examples include the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pharmaceutical drug, Ziconotide (Prialt®; Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) that is the synthetic equivalent of the naturally occurring ω-conotoxin MVIIA, whilst several other conotoxins are currently being used as standard research tools and screened as potential therapeutic drugs in pre-clinical or clinical trials. These developments highlight the importance of driving conotoxin-related research. A PubMed query from 1 January 2007 to 31 August 2011 combined with hand-curation of the retrieved articles allowed for the collation of 98 recently identified conotoxins with therapeutic potential which are selectively discussed in this review. Protein sequence similarity analysis tentatively assigned uncharacterized conotoxins to predicted functional classes. Furthermore, conotoxin therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative disorders (NDD) was also inferred.
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Lee S, Kim Y, Back SK, Choi HW, Lee JY, Jung HH, Ryu JH, Suh HW, Na HS, Kim HJ, Rhim H, Kim JI. Analgesic effect of highly reversible ω-conotoxin FVIA on N type Ca2+ channels. Mol Pain 2010; 6:97. [PMID: 21172037 PMCID: PMC3025903 DOI: 10.1186/1744-8069-6-97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2010] [Accepted: 12/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background N-type Ca2+ channels (Cav2.2) play an important role in the transmission of pain signals to the central nervous system. ω-Conotoxin (CTx)-MVIIA, also called ziconotide (Prialt®), effectively alleviates pain, without causing addiction, by blocking the pores of these channels. Unfortunately, CTx-MVIIA has a narrow therapeutic window and produces serious side effects due to the poor reversibility of its binding to the channel. It would thus be desirable to identify new analgesic blockers with binding characteristics that lead to fewer adverse side effects. Results Here we identify a new CTx, FVIA, from the Korean Conus Fulmen and describe its effects on pain responses and blood pressure. The inhibitory effect of CTx-FVIA on N-type Ca2+ channel currents was dose-dependent and similar to that of CTx-MVIIA. However, the two conopeptides exhibited markedly different degrees of reversibility after block. CTx-FVIA effectively and dose-dependently reduced nociceptive behavior in the formalin test and in neuropathic pain models, and reduced mechanical and thermal allodynia in the tail nerve injury rat model. CTx-FVIA (10 ng) also showed significant analgesic effects on writhing in mouse neurotransmitter- and cytokine-induced pain models, though it had no effect on acute thermal pain and interferon-γ induced pain. Interestingly, although both CTx-FVIA and CTx-MVIIA depressed arterial blood pressure immediately after administration, pressure recovered faster and to a greater degree after CTx-FVIA administration. Conclusions The analgesic potency of CTx-FVIA and its greater reversibility could represent advantages over CTx-MVIIA for the treatment of refractory pain and contribute to the design of an analgesic with high potency and low side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungkyu Lee
- Department of Life Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, South Korea
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